Digital BW, The Print

John wrote:

>   I will try again, This is from Gary Rogers the pipeline constructor
>      Tech Note:-
>    
>     Mr. Dinkla's observation that the PocketRIP documentation states that the screen module stores and processes the image data as 8-bit data, and Dr. Edmunds' statement that the R9 Pipeline is a 16-bit pipeline with an eight (8) channel, 16-bit/channel ICC engine are both correct and not contradictory.
>    
>   From it's initial design specification to its final development, the R9 Pipeline integrated into the PocketRIP was built as a sixteen (16) channel, 16-bit/channel image processing pipeline. The current inkjet printers supported by the PocketRIP expect a printed dot to be represented by either one or two bits per color channel. For computational efficiencies, the R9 screening module that interfaces with this class of printers converts the 16-bit data output from the color module to 8-bit data, and then converts the 8-bit data to 1- or 2-bit data streams. There is no visible (or measurable) loss of print quality by executing the screening algorithms in two steps (16 to 8; and 8 to 1 or 2) rather than in one step (16 to 1 or 2).
>    
>   When a class of inkjet printers becomes available that accepts 16-bit input data, the R9 pipeline's interface to the R9 driver module will be simplified: the 16-bit output from the color module can be piped directly to the driver, bypassing the screening module. Implementation of the R9 pipeline in applications that drive very high resolution digital imaging devices already take advantage of the pipeline's 32-bit in X and Y, 16-bit in Z, address space.
>    
>   As stated above, the  R9 pipeline integrated in the PocketRIP supports up to sixteen channels; the PocketRIP documentation and Dr. Edmunds' statement mention eight channel support. When the class of supported printer require a twelve or sixteen channel input stream, the PocketRIP drivers and documentation will be changed accordingly.
>    
>   With regard to the PocketRIP's documentation stating support for 8-bit and 16-bit image modes, this reflects the image modes supported in Photoshop and not a limitation of the PocketRIP.

John,

That settles it. More or less a hybrid then with more 16 bit 
aspects than I expected.

Ernst
                    --
           Ernst Dinkla


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